Ukraine seeks Starlink access for drone strikes on Russian missile launchers - FT
Ukraine has asked the United States to help secure permission to use Starlink terminals on long-range drones targeting Russian ballistic missile launchers up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) inside Russia, the Financial Times reported, citing U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
This is reported by the Financial Times, citing informed American officials.
President Volodymyr Zelensky raised the proposal with U.S. President Donald Trump during a White House meeting in July, asking him to discuss expanded Starlink access with SpaceX owner Elon Musk.
Kyiv wants to equip long-range drones with Starlink connectivity to improve their ability to locate and strike mobile ballistic missile launchers and related military infrastructure before Russia can launch missiles at Ukrainian cities.
The proposal would limit such operations to targets within 200 kilometers of the Ukrainian border.
Trump made no commitment to support the request and did not appear to back the proposal, according to the FT. U.S. officials who attended the meeting also believe Musk is unlikely to approve the expanded use.
Starlink currently restricts connectivity inside Russia, forcing Ukrainian long-range drones operating there to rely on alternative navigation systems, including AI-based technology.
The Atlantic previously reported that Musk had resisted Ukrainian requests to expand Starlink use for long-range strikes, arguing instead that Kyiv and Moscow should reach a peace agreement.
Ukraine has increasingly sought ways to destroy Russian ballistic missile launchers before they can fire, as Kyiv faces shortages of Patriot air-defense interceptors.
Denys Shtilerman, co-owner of Ukrainian long-range drone manufacturer Fire Point, described the strategy as an alternative to relying solely on missile defense.
“Instead of intercepting the arrows, we will attack the archers,” he said.